TechPulse 360

ARM sends broadside at Intel

ARM said Monday it will take a big step to improve the ability of ARM processors to use Adobe Systems’ Flash online video technology, hoping to defang an argument Intel has used to push its rival Atom chip.

The Cambridge, England,-based chip-technology company also said it will work to bring Ubuntu Linux to the ARM environment, an operating system widely used in netbooks, or low-priced notebooks. The company’s efforts are a clear two-pronged attack at Intel and its campaign to promote Atom as an alternative to ARM chips.

ARM said it plans supports the latest Flash 10 software – used widely on the Internet – by the second half of 2009. It also hopes to support Adobe Air in the future.

ARM also said it’s partnership with open-source publisher Canonical would enable it to port Ubuntu Linux to its processors by April 2009.

Intel has sought to promote its new Atom chip for small laptops and portable Internet devices by claiming it works better than ARM processors with the most common Internet technologies.

The ARM news on Flash “really blows away that argument,” said Kerry McGuire, director of strategic software alliances at ARM. “With this support, you will get the full (Internet) experience.”

She added that with Ubuntu there will be a full desktop software package for ARM. “Our OEM partners will now be able to compete head-to-head with netbooks powered by Intel’s Atom chip,” she said

Up to now, ARM devices have only supported a more limited Flash Lite technology that enables them to display YouTube videos, for instance, but not handle more complicated Flash applications.

McGuire said he expects the first ARM-based netbooks to ship by tne end of 2009.

ARM’s customers presently use its technology to design chips for cell phones, portable Web devices, set-top boxes, televisions, media players and cars. The new Flash support is expected in the ARM11 and Cortex processors.